Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to Mizoram and Manipur on Saturday embodies the convergence of infrastructure development with healing, marking a pivotal moment in India’s Northeast transformation.
Central to this narrative is Modi’s inaugural return to Manipur since the devastating 2023 ethnic violence, underscoring the government’s intent to leverage large-scale infrastructure projects as both economic catalysts and peace-building instruments. This visit signals a new era of stability and growth, where the spools of railway tracks weave together economic opportunity and communal reconciliation.
The inauguration of the Rs 8,070 crore Bairabi-Sairang railway, stitching Aizawl into the national grid, alongside the unveiling of over Rs 17,000 crore in regional projects, is a pointed reminder that for the Modi administration, infrastructure is not just policy; it is doctrine and stability and growth are to be engineered, quite literally, from the ground up.
Infrastructure as Foundation for Peace
The choreography of Modi’s Northeast foray is deliberate: development is to be the principal vehicle for both conflict resolution and regional integration. By choosing to inaugurate the Bairabi-Sairang railway, a feat of 48 tunnels and 143 bridges carved through some of India’s most recalcitrant terrain, the prime minister is sending a message that the government’s resolve to connect the nation is not to be doubted.
This engineering colossus, rising 104 metres, towering 40 metres above Delhi’s Qutub Minar, stands as a metaphor for the recalibration of India’s approach to its northeastern periphery.
The railway’s completion, after years of geological intransigence and technical labyrinths, is a case study in what sustained political will can achieve. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s remarks on the project’s technical know-how, tunnelling through sand that had to be coaxed into stone, only underscore the extraordinary lengths taken to weave Mizoram into the national economic fabric.
In addition, the immediate launch of three new express services connecting Sairang to Delhi, Kolkata, and Guwahati further reinforces this integration, providing Mizoram’s residents with direct access to India’s major economic centres.
But has this development really brought about peace in the region? Modi’s first visit to Manipur since the May 2023 ethnic violence that claimed over 258 lives and displaced 60,000 people represents a critical intervention. The prime minister has decided to visit Churachandpur, the epicentre of Kuki-Zo-Meitei tensions, and interact directly with internally displaced persons, signaling a hands-on approach to conflict resolution that goes beyond traditional administrative responses.
In addition, the recently signed revised Suspension of Operations pact with 24 Kuki-Zo insurgent groups provides crucial context for the timing and significance of this visit. Signed on September 4, 2025, just days before Modi’s arrival, this agreement reduces militant camps from 14 to six each for the Kuki National Organisation and United People’s Front, while ensuring strict monitoring through Aadhaar-linked financial systems and foreign national identification processes.
The combination of suspending operations, direct engagement with displaced persons, and the announcement of Rs 8,500 crore in new projects for Manipur highlights the government’s belief that economic opportunities and infrastructure can provide alternatives to ethnic conflict.
Decade of Transformation Since 2014
The Modi government’s Northeast infrastructure revolution becomes most apparent through a comparative analysis of investment patterns and project completion rates across different time periods. Railway budget allocation for the region has increased five-fold, from Rs 2,122 crore annually during 2009-2014 to Rs 10,440 crore for 2025-26, representing the highest investment levels in the region’s history.
The increase in funding has enabled the completion of transformative projects, including the Rs 5,960 crore Bogibeel Bridge and the Rs 2,056 crore Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, both of which have substantially reduced travel times and enhanced strategic connectivity.
A Rs 6,600 crore allocation for the establishment of the PM-DevINE scheme in 2022 showcases the government’s focus on development in the region. The focus on infrastructure convergence, social development projects, and livelihood activities for youth and women addresses historical development gaps while creating employment opportunities that can reduce regional migration and brain drain.
The scheme’s 35 sanctioned projects worth Rs 4,857 crore as of November 2024 span healthcare, education, digital infrastructure, and cultural preservation, reflecting a comprehensive approach to regional development.
Another scheme, the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), has further complemented these efforts by providing gap-funding for roads, healthcare, education, and industrial development projects between Rs 5 crore and Rs 50 crore. Combined with the doubling of airport infrastructure and the introduction of 71 new air routes, these investments have created an interconnected development ecosystem that supports both economic growth and strategic security requirements.
Strategic Integration and National Security
The region’s 5,182-kilometre border with China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Bhutan makes infrastructure development essential for both defensive capabilities and diplomatic engagement through India’s Act East Policy. The Dhola-Sadiya Bridge’s design specifications, capable of supporting 60-tonne main battle tanks, exemplify how civilian infrastructure projects simultaneously serve strategic military requirements. Additionally, the integration of digital infrastructure like broadband services along these corridors introduces a multiplier effect, enhancing the potential for economic growth and modernisation.
For instance, the deployment of fintech services utilising these digital backbones can revolutionise local economies, providing access to banking in remote areas and fostering new business opportunities, thereby reinforcing the region’s readiness for a modern economy.
The Act East Policy’s evolution since 2014 has repositioned Northeast India from a peripheral border region to the central gateway for Southeast Asian engagement. Infrastructure projects like the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project depend fundamentally on robust Northeast connectivity, making regional development essential for India’s broader geopolitical aspirations.
Since 2014, the North-East has emerged as a beacon of peace and progress. Insurgency incidents in the region have declined sharply by 73 per cent, while casualties among security personnel have fallen by 60 per cent, reflecting significant improvements in law and order. The Modi government has been instrumental in fostering peace, formalising over a dozen accords with diverse groups such as the Bodo (2020), Bru-Reang (2020), Karbi Anglong (2021), Tripura Motha (2024), and ULFA (2023) factions. This sustained peace dividend is also evident in democratic participation, with Assam recording a voter turnout of 81.6 per cent in the 2024 elections, a sign of strengthened faith in democratic governance.
In Mizoram, a state where 87 per cent of the population is Christian and over 90 per cent are tribal, the government has successfully dispelled allegations of being anti-minority. Economic programmes have been tailored to uplift the local populace: for instance, the National Bamboo Mission has generated substantial employment opportunities, while the PM-KISAN scheme provides direct income support of Rs 6,000 annually to 1.2 lakh farmers. Healthcare coverage has expanded under Ayushman Bharat, benefiting 2.5 lakh residents with free medical services.
Infrastructure development has radically transformed Mizoram’s rural connectivity. The PM Grameen Sadak Yojana has linked 95 per cent of the state’s habitations, a dramatic rise from merely 30 per cent in 2014. Housing initiatives under the PM Awas Yojana have delivered thousands of homes to Mizo families. The Jal Jeevan Mission ensures access to clean drinking water, enhancing the quality of life. Simultaneously, cultural preservation remains a priority, with government support for traditional festivals such as Chapchar Kut and concerted efforts to promote the Mizo language. The handloom and handicraft sectors have been invigorated through the Vocal for Local campaign, advancing Mizo textiles and crafts on national platforms.
Modi’s peace-building through development marks a shift from earlier security-centric strategies that alienated locals. Signing over a dozen accords since 2014, such as with the Bodo, Bru-Reang, Karbi Anglong, and ULFA groups, demonstrates the belief that comprehensive development can counter insurgency and ethnic conflict. The new Kuki-Zo pact continues the approach of blending security with economic opportunity.
Today’s visit culminates more than a decade of systematic Northeast transformation that has fundamentally altered the region’s relationship with both the Indian state and the broader global economy. The Rs 17,000 crore in combined project announcements during this visit reflects sustained institutional commitment that extends well beyond individual project cycles.
With 933 railway surveys covering 65,488 kilometres sanctioned nationwide over the past three years, including 21 surveys spanning 2,499 kilometres specifically for Northeast projects, the foundation has been laid for continued expansion throughout the next decade.
Modi’s Northeast strategy demonstrates how sustained infrastructure investment, combined with inclusive peace-building and strategic positioning, can transform peripheral regions into growth engines and stability anchors. As Mizoram connects to India’s railway network for the first time and Manipur begins its recovery from ethnic strife through development-focused engagement, the Northeast exemplifies how infrastructure-led development can serve simultaneously as economic catalyst, peace dividend, and strategic asset in India’s broader national transformation.
